Gripping device



A. E. STEPHENS GRIPPING DEVICE Jan. 28, 1964 Filed Jan. 18, 1962 INVENTOR ALBERT E. STEPHENS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,119,597 GPHNG DEVICE Albert E. tephens, 702 E. Lamme, Bozeman, Mont. Filed Jan. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 167,202 4 Claims. (Cl. 25429) (Granted under Title 35 US. Code (1952), sec. 2.66)

A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sub-licenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a gripping device, particularly to a device of this type for gripping a probe, in the form of a pipe or rod, for use in making deep grain bin probings. The invention has among its objects the provision of such a device which is adapted to apply pressure to force the probe into the grain bin to obtain and hold a grain sample and also to apply pressure to withdraw it from the bin after the sample has been taken without the necessity of reversing the gripping device. A further object of the invention is the provision of such a gripping device for use in making deep bin probings which can be economically constructed, is simple to use, can be operated rapidly, permits comfortable operation in limited working space and close quarters, and can be used without undue strain thereby to eliminate accidents, such as sprained back or strained tendons, occurring in such type of work. Other objects will be apparent from the description of the invention.

In general, the gripping device of the invention is provided with a first jaw, a second jaw which is narrower than the first jaw and independently pivotable therein, and means for independently pivotably mounting the second jaw in the first jaw. The device also includes a pair of independently pivotable gripping members provided with roughened gripping surfaces, means for independently pivotably mounting one of these gripping members in each jaw with the gripping surfaces facing each other, and a handle attached to each of the jaws for manipulating the device. The handles are movable in one direction to a first limit position where they diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between said gripping surfaces. The handles are also movable in the opposite direction over center to a second limit position where they again diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby again adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between the gripping surfaces.

In the accompanying drawing FIG. 1 is a plan view of the gripping device;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view comparable to FIG. 3 illustrating the device gripping a partially-shown rod with the handle positioned preparatory to applying downward pressure to force the probe into a deep grain bin (not shown) to obtain and hold a grain sample; and

FIG. 5 is a view also comparable to FIG. 3 illustrating the device gripping a partially-shown rod with the ham dles positioned preparatory to applying upward pressure to withdraw the probe from the deep grain bin after a grain sample has been taken.

Referring to the drawing, the gripping device is provided with a U-shaped, first, open-end jaw 11 comprising sides 12 and 13 attached to the end of a handle 14. The sides 12 and 13 are provided, in turn, with aligned openings 15 and 16, respectively, positioned near the point of attachment to handle 14, to accommodate a 3,119,597 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 pivot pin 17 for pivoting a gripping member 18, mounted thereon, having a gripping surface 19 facing in the direction towards the open end of jaw 11.

The gripping device also includes a U-shaped, second, open-end jaw 25, narrower than first jaw 11, and adapted to be pivotable therein, as will be explained hereinafter. Jaw 25 comprises sides 26 and 27 attached to the end of a handle 28. Sides 26 and 27 are provided, in turn, with aligned openings 29 and 30, respectively, positioned near the point of attachment to handle 28, to accommodate a pivot pin 31 for pivoting a gripping member 32, mounted thereon, having a gripping surface 33 facing in the direction towards the open end of jaw 25.

Sides '12 and 13 of jaw 11 are further provided with openings 40 and 41, respectively, whiles sides 26 and 27 of jaw 25 are provided with comparable openings 42 and 43, respectively, the openings 40 and 42 and the openings 41 and 43 being alignable when jaw 25, being narrower than jaw 11, as mentioned previously, is placed therein. Jaw 25 is rendered pivotable within jaw 11, by means of a pin 44 accommodated in aligned openings 49 and 42 and a pin 45, aligned with pin 44, in aligned openings 41 and 43. By virtue of such positioning, the gripping surfaces 19 and 33 of pivotable gripping members 18 and 32 face each other with space therebetween for insertion of a probe, as, for example, rod 50.

To operate the gripping device, probe 50 is placed in the space between the gripping surfaces of the gripping members and pressure then applied to handles 14 and 28 to push them downwardly, as shown in FIG. 4. By such manipulation, the probe is held in a vise-like grip between the gripping surfaces and may be forced downwardly, by further downward pressure on the handle, into a deep grain bin to obtain and hold a grain sample. Thereafter, the handles are manipulated so that upward pressure is applied to the handles forcing them upwardly, as shown in FIG. 5, whereupon the gripping members again grip the probe in a vise-like grip. Upon further application of upward pressure on the handles, the probe, holding the grain sample, can be withdrawn from the bin.

I claim:

1. A gripping device comprising a first jaw; a second jaw narrower than said first jaw and independently pivotable therein; means for independently pivotably mounting said second jaw in said first jaw; a pair of independently pivotable gripping members provided with gripping surfaces; means for independently pivotably mounting one of said gripping members in each jaw with the gripping surfaces facing each other; and a handle attached to each of said jaws; said handles being movable in one direction to a first limit position where they diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between said gripping surfaces, said handles being also mov able in the opposite direction over center to a second limit position where they again diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby again adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between the gripping surfaces.

2. A gripping device comprising a first open-end jaw; a second open-end jaw narrower than said first jaw and independently pivotable therein; means for independently pivotably mounting said second jaw in said first jaw with the open ends facing each other; a pair of independently pivotable gripping members provided with gripping surfaces; means for independently pivotably mounting one of said gripping members in each jaw with the gripping surfaces facing each other; and a handle attached to each of said jaws for manipulating the device; said handles being movable in one direction to a first limit position where they diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between said gripping surfaces, said handles being also movable in the opposite direction over center to a second limit position where they again diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby again adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between the gripping surfaces.

3. A gripping device consisting of a first jaw; a second jaw narrower than said first jaw and independently pivotable therein; means for independently pivotably mounting said second jaw in said first jaw; a pair of independently pivotable gripping members provided with gripping surfaces; means for independently pivotably mounting one of said gripping members in each jaw with the gripping surfaces facing each other; and a handle attached to each of said jaws; said handles being movable in one direction to a first limit position where they diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between said gripping surfaces, said handles being also movable in the opposite direction over center to a second limit position where they again diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby again adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between the gripping surfaces.

4. A gripping device consisting of a first open-end jaw;

a second open-end jaw narrower than said first jaw and independently pivotable therein; means for independently pivotably mounting said second jaw in said first jaw with the open ends facing each other; a pair of independently pivotable gripping members provided with gripping surfaces; means for independently pivotably mounting one of said gripping members in each jaw with the gripping surfaces facing each other; and a handle attached to each of said jaws for manipulating the device; said handles being movable in one direction to a first limit position where they diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between said gripping surfaces, said handles being also movable in the opposite direction over center to a second limit position Where they again diverge outwardly from the pivotal mounting thereby again adapting the gripping members for gripping an object positioned between the gripping surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,249,947 Gilbert Dec. 11, 1917 1,642,832 Traves Sept. 20, 1927 2,218,845 Kiggins Oct. 22, 1940 2,749,173 Peterson June 5, 1956 3,035,816 Conant May 22, 1962 

1. A GRIPPING DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST JAW; A SECOND JAW NARROWER THAN SAID FIRST JAW AND INDEPENDENTLY PIVOTABLE THEREIN; MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLY PIVOTABLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND JAW IN SAID FIRST JAW; A PAIR OF INDEPENDENTLY PIVOTABLE GRIPPING MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH GRIPPING SURFACES; MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLY PIVOTABLY MOUNTING ONE OF SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS IN EACH JAW WITH THE GRIPPING SURFACES FACING EACH OTHER; AND A HANDLE ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID JAWS; SAID HANDLES BEING MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION TO A FIRST LIMIT POSITION WHERE THEY DIVERGE OUTWARDLY FROM THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING THEREBY ADAPTING THE GRIPPING MEMBERS FOR GRIPPING AN OBJECT POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING SURFACES, SAID HANDLES BEING ALSO MOVABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OVER CENTER TO A SECOND LIMIT POSITION WHERE THEY AGAIN DIVERGE OUTWARDLY FROM THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING THEREBY AGAIN ADAPTING THE GRIPPING MEMBERS FOR GRIPPING AN OBJECT POSITIONED BETWEEN THE GRIPPING SURFACES. 